2 deaths in one county.

[The Haymaker]

Newcastle man dies in lawn tractor accident | The Morning Sentinel, Waterville, ME

 

[IslandTractor]

An 89yo and a 92yo both killed after losing control of and flipping riding lawn mowers. Maybe there is an age when we should stop operating dangerous machinery.

 

[rekees4300]

At least they passed with smiles on their faces ... better way to go than vegetating in some nursing home.

 

[soulasphil]

An 89yo and a 92yo both killed after losing control of and flipping riding lawn mowers. Maybe there is an age when we should stop operating dangerous machinery.

The problem is what age ? When we say that, we generally think of other people. I think the decision is very hard to take.

 

[IslandTractor]

The problem is what age ? When we say that, we generally think of other people. I think the decision is very hard to take.

I agree it is hard to set limits but would suggest that both 89 and 92 are on the wrong side of the dividing line for most individuals. I don't know if there is data on age versus tractor accidents but suspect it is like for motor vehicles. If so then pretty clearly there is increase risk starting at about 70. No one would suggest stopping at 70 but when the curve heads up (more accident risk) there might be some sort of public guidance. No license required to operate lawn mowers obviously but a public relations/public health campaign to make people think through the issue might help families decide.

 

[dave1949]

I was thinking 89 and 92 are a bit on the old side of safe too. It depends alot on the person of course. Reaction time, eyesight, sense of balance and overall judgment are a bit suspect at that age for most. If a bone gets broken, healing is poor too. Just being forced to sit around trying to heal can be the beginning of the end for an elderly person. If it were my parent, I would be strongly encouraging them to hire a neighbor kid or something if I lived too far away. I wonder if either was still driving a car?
Dave.

 

[Hematite]

I agree it is hard to set limits but would suggest that both 89 and 92 are on the wrong side of the dividing line for most individuals. I don't know if there is data on age versus tractor accidents but suspect it is like for motor vehicles. If so then pretty clearly there is increase risk starting at about 70. No one would suggest stopping at 70 but when the curve heads up (more accident risk) there might be some sort of public guidance. No license required to operate lawn mowers obviously but a public relations/public health campaign to make people think through the issue might help families decide.

That's for sure!

 

[davkir]

I'm only 60 so I have a way to go. But if you are doing something you like/want to do and there is little/no risk to other people, I hope no one ever says I can't because I'm too old.

 

[EE_Bota]

I'm only 60 so I have a way to go. But if you are doing something you like/want to do and there is little/no risk to other people, I hope no one ever says I can't because I'm too old.

I agree. Risk to others is the main thing.

I (perhaps) have several more years before I have to decide, but unless I change my mind, I am going to hire the neighbor kid to do the car driving, and I'll do the lawn mowing / tractor driving.

 

[IslandTractor]

I agree. Risk to others is the main thing. .

I agree too but I also think about what a sad thing it would be for the whole family to find granddad squashed under a tractor some day. Not the sort of family tradition one would like to remember. I'd say that while it is clearly granddad's choice it should be clear to his family what the risks and odds are so that they have a chance to talk to him about the choice. The risk to others is more than the risk of being run over by a mower.

 

[crusty 1]

I think this makes #3 or so now I,ll be 61 my dad is still going strong in his middle upper 80s and I,d stand back if you told him he had to stop doing something he wanted to do.All of us age differently so it must be a person by person call.I,v seen guy,s in there 20s I wouldn,t want to be around using tractors etc too so like I say each man must be judged on their own.:thumbsupave

 

[Wacky]

Some of the age related activities are definitely related to the individual capacity. I can outwork a lot of 40 year olds. But I surely wouldn't want to put others at risk of what I do. For every 80-90 year person's accident, there are probably 10 times the number of drunk..or stupid...or lazy...or drugged... or just plain irresponsible who cause accidents. So go focus on somebody else! And yeah, when I go, let it be doing something other than sitting/laying around.

Couldn't have said it better myself:drink:.....Although I do try to tell my wife that I am getting too old to weedeat steep hillsides at 38.....she don't care. She says were only 5 mins from the hospital what more do I want??:laughing::laughing:

 

[lostcause]

i actually live i the same county as both of those who died in the accidents. i also have a relative living next door who will be 88 this year and still drives a car and mows the lawn (well, most of it). i think it's a good testament to the local lifestyle. how many people that age are still doing these things? not to mention that being able to do these things helps them get through the day. living in a rural area, most people have lived their lives doing these sort of things. take them away, and you may be taking away all that they have left.

sure, you've lost some reaction time at that age, but probably gained wisdom. there are a lot more accidents caused by poor judgement than loss of motor skills. i'll change my opinion when i see the news story about the 90 year old who got in a car accident while texting.

 

[wampum]

I am pretty sure here in PA. that after a certain age,you have to get checked to be allowed to drive. I hate any kind of government butting in. But when it comes to safety on the highway,I have little problem with it. If you are found to be unsafe on the road,I guess you should step up to the plate and hire your Grandchild to do it. That's a hard call though,because no one likes to admit they have lost a little ground.

 

[Pops15]

I agree with Lostcause and Oldballs. Getting out and doing something productive is beneficial for the older folks ( or people of any age for that matter). I have a friend who's Grandfather-in-law at age 97 still mows his lawn with a riding mower. The old guy goes bowling several times a week too! I say more power to him, and those like him! Beats the heck out of sitting around. I realize there comes a time when we can't do what we used to. Some can figure it out themselves while others need encouragement from family. We recently went through this with my FIL. He was about to buy a new riding mower. He's still perfectly capable of operating a rider but his kids convinced him it was time to turn the mowing over to someone else because they were worried he'd fall while getting on or off the tractor.
The last thing we need is more government intrusion into our lives. Leave it up to individuals and their families to decide when it's time to hang it up.

 

[IslandTractor]

I agree with Lostcause and Oddballs. .

It is good thing that these guys don't get their names mixed up in a genetic reassortment. Oddcause and Lostballs anyone? (actually the OP was oldballs though)

 

[NorTracNY]

I wish people would understand that without living you might as well be dead. If you want to do an activity that won't affect others, then you should be able to. I have a grandfather in his 90s. He's living! I don't care how he dies, I'm just happy he's living now. I was actually saddened a little when he told me last year that he's probably only going to farm another 10 years. He's got a knee that's bothering him.

 

[IslandTractor]

I have a grandfather in his 90s. He's living! I don't care how he dies, I'm just happy he's living now..

I appreciate the basic thought here but it's hard to imagine you don't care how he dies. Choose one: A) At home, in his bed or perhaps some variation involving a quick fatal stroke or MI. Or B) Slowly and painfully suffocating alone in a field/ditch/whatever pinned under a **** lawnmower.

I'm pretty sure everyone would choose A so the issue is how to minimize the chances of B occurring without being overprotective "nannies".

 

[lostcause]

I appreciate the basic thought here but it's hard to imagine you don't care how he dies. Choose one: A) At home, in his bed or perhaps some variation involving a quick fatal stroke or MI. Or B) Slowly and painfully suffocating alone in a field/ditch/whatever pinned under a **** lawnmower.

I'm pretty sure everyone would choose A so the issue is how to minimize the chances of B occurring without being overprotective "nannies".

i lost a grandfather 16 years ago, and i remember in the last couple years the thing that frustrated him the most was that he couldn't do what he used to do in the field and in the shop. he tried going to florida a few times in the winters, but didn't like it, cause there were too many "old people" there. i think having to stay in the house and not being active was suffocating him more than being pinned under a tractor would have been.

some people work all their lives so they can sit back and relax in their twilight years. others work all their lives so they can work for the rest of their lives. guess you have to be like them to understand it.